Don't take our word for it -- that's what he told ABC News in an Oscar-worthy performance that, sadly, happened the morning after the Academy Awards.

"I am on a drug. It's called 'Charlie Sheen.' It's not available because if you try it once, you will die. Your face will melt off, and your children will weep over your exploded body," the benched star of CBS's "Two and a Half Men" said in an interview with ABC News, portions of which aired on its morning newsfotainment show, "Good Morning America."

"I woke up and decided, you know, I've been kicked around. I've been criticized," Sheen continued. " I've been like the 'Aw, shucks' guy with, like, this bitchin' rock-star life. And I'm just finally going to completely embrace it, wrap both arms around it and love it violently. And defend it violently through violent hatred."

Sheen, 45, did interviews that aired Monday on both "GMA" and NBC's "Today" -- the first stops on his campaign against CBS, Warner Bros. TV (which produces "Men") and show creator Chuck Lorre. On Thursday, CBS and Warner Bros. TV had taken the extraordinary step of scrapping production on the country's most popular comedy series for the rest of the TV season after Charlie went on his most breathtaking radio tear yet.

"Based on the totality of Charlie Sheen's statements, conduct and condition, CBS and Warner Bros. Television have decided to discontinue production of 'Two and a Half Men' for the remainder of the season," the two companies said Thursday in a statement.

That announcement came just hours after recordings of a Sheen interview with syndicated radio personality Alex Jones went viral. In the interview, Sheen repeatedly attacked Lorre, whom Sheen insisted on calling "Chaim Levine."

Among the nastier bits of the interview, Sheen told Jones: "Check it, Alex: I embarrassed [Lorre] in front of his children and the world by healing at a pace that this unevolved mind cannot process. 'Last I checked, Chaim, I spent close to the last decade effortlessly and magically converting your tin cans into pure gold.' And the gratitude I get is [that] this charlatan chose not to do his job, which is to write."

Sheen's Monday interview on "GMA" was conducted at the Charlie Sheen Rehab Facility, located in Charlie Sheen's Home, Calif., where he underwent his lightning-fast rehab stint after CBS and Warner Bros. "temporarily" shut down production on the show. Sheen having "completed" rehab, CBS and Warner Bros were going to resume production on "Men" on Monday -- the day that, instead, ABC and NBC were clocking what are sure to be boffo ratings with their Charlie Sheen Explains All interviews, four days after CBS and WBTV scrapped plans to get back to work on "Men" after hearing the Jones interview and watching it go viral.

For his "GMA" interview Monday, Sheen was surrounded by his two girlfriends -- a la Hugh Heffner -- as well as the two young sons he shares with ex-wife Brooke Mueller.

On NBC's "Today" show, Sheen announced that he's planning to return to "Two and a Half Men" next season because that's what he agreed to under terms of his contract, he's a man of his word, blah, blah, blah. He also says he'd agree to do a 10th season on the show, after that. But "at this point, because of psychological distress, it's $3 million an episode -- take it or leave it," Sheen said, adding: "Look what they've put me through."

During his various interviews, Sheen acknowledged he'd used drugs in the past, saying the last time he used drugs, he "probably took more than anybody could survive."

"I was banging seven-gram rocks and finishing them, because that's how I roll," he told "GMA." "I have one speed. I have one gear -- go."

Sheen described himself as superhuman, citing a "different constitution," "different brain" and "different heart" than normal people, allowing him to survive his drug binges.

"I got tiger blood, man," he said. "My brain ... fires in a way that is -- I don't know, maybe not from this particular terrestrial realm."

But he's off drugs now, Sheen says, because it "bored the hell out of [him] after a while." And relapse is not an option, he insists, because "I blinked and I cured my brain. ... 'Can't' is the Cancer of Happen."

"GMA" wound up its interview with results of a drug test that Sheen submitted to, which proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he's been clean for at least 24 hours.

I loved the series. But -- After watching this guy over the last few weeks, I will not watch it; and will not watch the reruns. This guy does not deserve to work. He especially does not deserve to be on the air.

Wow. Can this clown be any more of a trainwreck?? His poor poor children...I'm done now with him. I don't need any more info about him. He has told me all I need to know. I used to love the show but now, I can not watch it ever again because I can't separate his character from the man portraying it and he is despicable and I don't do despicable ever...goodbye Charlie. Have a nice life with the time you have left. You are almost ready to burn out.

Wow. Can this clown be any more of a trainwreck?? His poor poor children...I'm done now with him. I don't need any more info about him. He has told me all I need to know. I used to love the show but now, I can not watch it ever again because I can't separate his character from the man portraying it and he is despicable and I don't do despicable ever...goodbye Charlie. Have a nice life with the time you have left. You are almost ready to burn out. He may think he is from another planet. But the truth is, he is totally souless and the other planet kicked him out and sent him here.

He's crazy, but...he's got a fair point about that "tin cans into gold" thing. That show is crap and I'm always confused when I find people used to watch it willingly.

But at any rate, the kid on that show has got to be more man than half-man at this point, right? Let the show stork drop off a baby, let Sheen go his own way, and they can keep the title without all the baggage.

my son and i love this show but after seeing sheen's interview on the today show, it is clear he thinks he can force his hand despite his reputation, despite his choices, despite whether the viewers can still back him in good conscious want to back him, despite whether or not his show could make money for cbs after all this. i feel fairly sure that sheen has ruined his opportunity with cbs and even if his attorney's force their hand with cbs...the viewers i'm fairly certain are through with him for as long as he continues to think and treat them like they don't matter. deal with that charlie "in your mind".

The show is hilarious. I think it works even better knowing Charlie plays himself on the show. I couldn't care less about his drug use or who or what he chooses to dip his wick into. I guess as long as he doesn't die on television, more power to him. Who wouldn't want to take a break from the monotony and bang a couple of porn stars and do a few eight-balls?

Now semebody tell me this relegates me to the Good Enough Degree pool and make a supposition about my intellect. I dare ya....

the fool consumes illegal drugs and till walking around and making millions? what role model . similar to the jocks thugs who fry their brains,commit crimes,lawyer up and continue to be employed. try that one if u WORK for a living

Sheen says, "Look what they put me through." This is a textbook comment of an addictive personality, refusing to accept responsibility for his actions and projecting the blame onto others. He also says his mind doesn't fire in "this particular terrestrial realm"...no kidding. Apparently his mind doesn't fire at all, no doubt due to years of drug and alcohol abuse. At this point, I can't even imagine what kind of therapy could help this wasted man.

Folks, Sheen is certainly an addict. But cool it on the brain references. Sheen knows just what he is doing. He's right that AA or NA is not for everybody. Success rates aren't high.

Just sit back and watch the ride and enjoy it for what it is. Don't try to play therapist, because we have no reason to believe that his current PR offensive is a 100% sincere attempt at getting back to work. He's an artist and an entertainer, and quite honestly his brand of entertainment is better than most of the so-called acceptable forms of entertainment out there.

LOL - I'm on the floor LOLing reading the posts. Umm, ya'know - if no one watched the show - he wouldn't be getting 2 mil/episode. Heck yes he'll get the 3 mil - EVERYONE will still be watching (especially the ones that say they don't watch the show - right!).

Lingering_lead:...Sheen knowing what he is doing doesn't mean he's firing on all four. And 'sit back and watch and enjoy the ride'? This man is not an island hurting only himself. He is shattering the hearts and lives of those who love him. Your seeming enjoyment of watching someone self-destruct and your insensitivity to the impact it is certainly having on others is really very sad. Make a supposition about your intellect? No, but your character may need some tweaking.

It is obvious from listening to his live interviews that his brain is 1/2 fried, the way he speaks, his brain is jumping at full speed one second and then it slows down for the next few seconds.
He has inhaled one too many cloulds of crack smoke.
I cannot believe that cbs was paying him such a large amount.
He is not worth 1/2 of that per episode.
The mother and berta are the best two characters in the show.
This guy is washed up, especially now that all of america can see how really 'zonked' out he really is from his live interviews.
He should have never have gone live.

Finally! Someone Dan Snyder can point to as a bigger PR moron than he... Altho' Sndyer doesn't have the excuse of being mentally ill... (does he?)

Actually, this is the kind of genius PR tactic that has worked on Snyder in the past: if Snyder was running NBC, he'd probably hire Sheen away at $3.5M per episode. (And then, of course, the ratings would tank.)

See Sheen knew the media would allow him to rant and make idiotic statements for an interview. I laughed watching him play games with the lady (interviewer) trying to hold a "serious" conversation with an egomaniac idiot. Then on The View this morning his buddy went some foreign policy 9/11 rant to take the focus off the fact Sheen's behavior got the show shut down. As I stated before hand the cast severance pkgs and FIRE him...let his ego get him another job!!! It's Hollywood, it luvs train wrecks for a story hahahaha

"The show is hilarious. I think it works even better knowing Charlie plays himself on the show. I couldn't care less about his drug use or who or what he chooses to dip his wick into..."

I always wondered who in the world could be entertained by that stupid show, and I guess I now know.

Maybe you couldn't care less, but here's just a sample of his behavior: shot a girlfriend, smashed another's head repeatedly into a marble floor, choked his wife, to name just a few. Yeah, it's so GREAT how he plays himself on tee-veeeee!

I see all the negative comments, but I still haven't seen anyone allege that Sheen has screwed up at work. In fact, Sheen himself says that he has been solid without exception. No one has disputed that claim, at all.

He's so breathtakingly deluded. We've seen many other celebrities crash and burn like this, but none of them---except Mel Gibson---came across as being so hateful and arrogant. Sheen appears to be in a full-blown manic episode, and seems a long way from accepting that he needs help.

Lingering_lead:...Sheen knowing what he is doing doesn't mean he's firing on all four. And 'sit back and watch and enjoy the ride'? This man is not an island hurting only himself. He is shattering the hearts and lives of those who love him. Your seeming enjoyment of watching someone self-destruct and your insensitivity to the impact it is certainly having on others is really very sad. Make a supposition about your intellect? No, but your character may need some tweaking.

Charlie exists to entertain me. He acknowledges this. Why can't you? I care not about his family. Chances are good his children will be better off once he's banging hookers in the proverbial 'cathouse in the sky.'

For the life of me I can't figure out why the show is so successful. I've watched it a few times and it's fair, at best. Sheen is a spoiled, overpaid moron (probably a high school dropout) like the vast majority of the Hollywood crowd. They love to spend other people's money and opine on political issues like they actually know anything about them. I can't get over why so many people are fascinated with this crowd. They earn ridiculous sums playing "pretend." Why don't they do something meaningful with their lives.

I always wondered who in the world could be entertained by that stupid show, and I guess I now know.

Maybe you couldn't care less, but here's just a sample of his behavior: shot a girlfriend, smashed another's head repeatedly into a marble floor, choked his wife, to name just a few. Yeah, it's so GREAT how he plays himself on tee-veeeee!

Good for CBS, I really enjoyed the show, but enough is enough. Sheen's so called "cure" is a giant argument against self-medicating. He should not appear on any media without a therapist and lawyer at his side. And as for his next season and a 10th season at $3 million per episide? Good luck, Charlie, you are more deluded that anyone imagined.

HE LOOKs SO AGED AND OLD in that interview. I guess the drugs have done their job. The man is mentally ill and can OD at any time. He thinks he's superhuman and that he can drugs in quatities no one can do. Well, I give this pathetic man a few more months of life, at this speed.

With all his grandiosity, I’m betting Sheen is bi-polar. And he could well be off the cocaine, etc., but when you get off the bi-polar meds, you go down hill very fast. He is on a runaway train headed for a brick wall. I feel sorry for his children.

OK, lingering_lead, now I get it after reading your last couple of posts. You are a Charlie Sheen wannabe. You are just as narcissistic and egocentric, but if you don't have the talent, can't make the money, have the fame, "bang a couple of porn stars" (as you so elegantly put it), than the least you should be able to do is enjoy watching someone else. Nothing wrong with good ol' prurient voyeurism. And who can disagree that Kelly Preston should be shot for having thoughts and beliefs different from yours? You 'care not' for his family...no big surprise there. Your family must be so proud!

I see all the negative comments, but I still haven't seen anyone allege that Sheen has screwed up at work. In fact, Sheen himself says that he has been solid without exception. No one has disputed that claim, at all.

Posted by: blasmaic | February 28, 2011 2:00 PM | Report abuse

The reason for the temporary hiatus of the show in the first place was because Sheen had to dry out, de-tox or whatever after his latest episode. So yes, his actions have effected the network and the show.

As a father of someone Charlie Sheen's age, I feel sorry for father Martin Sheen--great actor. But I cannot help but to believe that Martin's permissive, progressive lifestyle aided his son's demise. I am sorry, but I think it is true.

The media is setting up these interviews with Charlie Sheen intentionally to mock him because they know they can elicit outrageous statements from him so they can entertain their audiences. That's sick. The man is obviously dealing with mental illness. What kind of society are we where someone's mental illness is entertaining and funny?

Sheen's sad disintegration is even more poignant because he's choosing to play it out before the cameras. He's obviously in the throes of something, whether it's drugs or a mental illness, because his grandiosity and delusional theories are straight out of the DSM IV. I pity him, his parents, his ex-wives and mostly, his children.

As for blaming his parents - no. This may well be manic/depression, which is no one's fault, and if it's drug or alcohol abuse, then it's clearly his fault. The man is 45 years old. How long can you blame the parents for their offspring's behavior?

Matlock! I defend Snyder's lawsuit for the myriad reasons posted that day. But remember I also qualified my defense by saying I was no fan of the man or his track record as Grand Pubah. Certainly not a member of his fan club. Does he even have one? In fact, I got rid of my season's tickets prior to Zorn Season 2. It was not easy to end such a long-term relationship... which brings me to... Charlie Sheen.

I can't defend Charlie Sheen's actions at all. What he is doing to himself and his liver and kidneys is just atrocious. But they are his liver and kidneys, and I do find comedy in his current little bender. Guilty as charged. Unlike so many other Hollywood losers he's content to let his demise occur within the confines of his own home or The Plaza Hotel. He's not out there running around with Lindsay Lohan and really putting people at risk. Am I only allowed to laugh at The Hangover when it happens on the big screen and not when it happens in real life?

And I just don't get the angst that it's causing you folks. My God, talk about letting the tail wag the dog. If you don't like him, don't watch him and by all means don't turn a discussion of him into the hottest thread on Washington Post's medicore cyber offering. He's an entertainer. Period.

I guess I do feel for his children, but then again plenty of good Americans have overcome worse obstacles, and they didn't have access to the Sheen family coffers.

The reason for the temporary hiatus of the show in the first place was because Sheen had to dry out, de-tox or whatever after his latest episode. So yes, his actions have effected the network and the show.

Posted by: cj1950 | February 28, 2011 3:32 PM | Report abuse

------------

He hasn't missed yet.

Actually, I think he sounds modest for a guy who's earning $44 million a year.

Are you telling me you would not be full of yourself if you made $44 million a year? Somehow it's a problem you will likely never face, nor one I will ever face either.

The angst is not because it's Charlie Sheen, it's because it is another person destroying his life and causing so much pain to others. I agree that he has every right to self-destruct. But permit me a little angst over what it is doing to his parents and siblings, since I buried a daughter last year who succeeded in her destruction. I wouldn't care who it was or what they did for a living. The "emotion" and "drama" comes from knowing that this story is being repeated in private tens of thousands of times each day. Under the circumstances, I find it neither amusing nor entertaining. However, I must admit that since Sheen is soooo over the top, I can see where those who haven't lost a loved one like this could find it funny.

Um...that's why they had to put a hold on production...he wasn't there. He had checked into the Charlie Sheen Recovery Center. They had to wait for him to be back in working condition so they could shoot the last four episodes of the season.

I am sorry for your loss. I hope you know I'm not trying to find humor in your situation. I too am a parent (albeit of little youngins) and can't imagine the pain and grief you must have felt and still feel everyday.

However, because he is a public person I believe he has allowed me (for all intents and purposes) to practice prurient voyeurism with regards to his foibles. And his quotes are marvelous. It's as if he's channeling Charlie Harper. It's quite a spectacle and I'm sorry if my enjoyment causes you any unnecessary pain.

I just don't like folks to turn this into some sort of name-calling excercise.

There's no end to the self indulgence and narcissism in society these days. This guy is the poster child for bad behavior. In the "old days," you didn't try and save your job by calling your boss despicable names. But I guess that's so "last century."

I could care less what he does with his pornstars and white powder, as long as he is arrested and incarcerated whenever he breaks the law. And when he is discovered dead in some dive a few months or years from now, the world will be better off.

Actually, Charlie didn't miss a taping. He bragged about how he would tell the director to change his physical marks to be closer to chairs and couches in case he ever fell. He said he showed up to work hungover, but never high. Believe him or not.

However, even the show is on record as saying that they are halting production in response to his media PR offensive and not because he was missing time in rehab. After all, he declared his rehad stint over last week and said "I heal quickly, but I also unravel really quickly. So get me now!" Basically, they've had enough of his PR act. Can't blame them.

"The run I was on made Sinatra, Flynn, Jagger, Richards just look like droopy-eyed armless children."

The guy is full blown manic. Why isn't anyone in the media talking about his mental illness????
Anyone who has worked mental health can see in an instant that this guy is bordering on being a major threat to himself and those around him just about 24/7. Delusional doesn't even begin to describe it.

Once again, people on the internets love to judge people they've never met. Seems to me all that matters is, is he funny (or entertaining) in his role? Because you tune in to be entertained, and sit through the ads. Everything else is irrelevant, as long as he's not harming anyone else. He's obnoxious in interviews? Politicians _lie to us_ and we swallow it whole, so spare me, please. (The Wisconsin public union guy who declined three times to answer the question of whether he condones fake doctors notes so public employees can protest without using their own leave is priceless.)

He only there to make you laugh. He's not up for babysitting your kids. The outrage expressed here is simply not warranted.

Did you hear the interview that Alex Jones conducted with Charlie Sheen this week? I don't mean did you hear the lame-stream so called media spin on the interview, I mean did you actually hear the interview? If you didn't you owe it to yourself to listen to what Charlie Sheen had to say. Most of the negative things the media reported were tongue in cheek, sarcastic, humorous comments that were taken completely out of context in a further attempt to destroy Charlie Sheen and damage Alex Jones. The global media corporate satanic elite have a vested interest in discrediting and destroying free thinking, patriotic Americans like Charlie Sheen and Alex Jones. These two guys are really good friends and they spend a lot of time together. A lot of what Charlie Sheen said on the show was inside humor between two old friends. Hard to comprehend at times and easy to take totally out of context. You owe it to yourself to wake up from your fluoride / TV coma and spend a month listening to what Alex Jones and Charlie Sheen have to say. It is real and it is important and it is relevant to your future. Do not make the mistake of judging these two American patriots based on slanted media coverage. Actually download the Alex Jones Podcast every day and listen to the show. Your mind will be opened and you will never look at this world the same way again. You can do this or you can watch the Oscars tonight and go back into your Matrix coma that the enemies of your freedom want you to be in. All Alex Jones and Charlie Sheen can offer you is the truth. Can you handle the truth? http://www.romanempire2012.com

We encourage users to analyze, comment on and even challenge washingtonpost.com's articles, blogs, reviews and multimedia features.

User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.